Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the economic and financial crime commission (EFCC) speaks about he country while delivering a lecture, entitled “Minimizing Corruption in Public Life” at the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Management in Abuja, yesterday. Nuhun Ribadu who was ACN Presidential candidate insisted that Nigeria should as a matter of urgency put in place steps to eradicate corruption and pave the way for sustainable development and good governance like other progressive nations of the worldIn his speech he said: “Leadership at all levels should be beyond reproach to provide the needed example. There should also be the will to apply the sanctions. As I have pointed out several times, lack of will by the political leadership to prosecute the war against corruption takes us nowhere. The political leadership should be determined and it should be seen to be serious about it. “Honesty has to be lifted to the position of a prized and rewarding national value. Criminals should not be celebrated as heroes on account of their wealth. “All government expenditures should be budgeted. Extra-budgetary spending should be criminalised and security votes should be completely phased out. “Transparency should be the keyword in all government businesses; from budgeting to award of contracts and even employment. Lack of transparency is the first thing that sows the seed of corruption. “Smart technology should be deployed in procurement process to give room for transparent and accountable system of doing business. “Cash transactions should be completely abolished or minimized as much as possible. With electronic movements of cash everything could be within watch and can be tracked.”

Ribadu said:
“Leadership at all levels should be beyond reproach to provide the
needed example. There should also be the will to apply the sanctions. As
I have pointed out several times, lack of will by the political
leadership to prosecute the war against corruption takes us nowhere.
The political leadership should be determined and it should be seen to
be serious about it.
“Honesty has to be lifted to the position of a prized and rewarding
national value. Criminals should not be celebrated as heroes on account
of their wealth.
“All government expenditures should be budgeted. Extra-budgetary
spending should be criminalised and security votes should be completely
phased out.
“Transparency should be the keyword in all government businesses; from
budgeting to award of contracts and even employment. Lack of
transparency is the first thing that sows the seed of corruption.
“Smart technology should be deployed in procurement process to give room
for transparent and accountable system of doing business.
“Cash transactions should be completely abolished or minimized as much
as possible. With electronic movements of cash everything could be
within watch and can be tracked.”